THOROLD, ON – As the big leagues of NASCAR Racing begin to gain momentum, local DIRT stock car racers are starting to gear up for their first point race of the new season at Merrittville Speedway.The historic d-shaped oval will crank up it’s 54th consecutive season Saturday April 30th.
Race fans attending Dirt Weekly Racing Series Events at Merrittville Speedway throughout the 2005 season will see a large number of rookies entering competition through all divisions in addition to several veterans making returns to the Thorold track.
“Our experiment last season with the GM Crate Engine in our Sportsmen Division and an Aluminum Spec Cylinder Head in the 358 Modifieds ,” relates Nancy Bicknell, adding “the two cost-cutting combinations is already bringing new and familiar faces to each division … race fans can look forward to new talent in all classes though.”
While three of the newest Sportsmen competitors have a history in Karting on Merrittville’s infield track, two are making the move to open wheel racing from the Hoosier Stocks.
Alan Sleight was one of many young up and coming drivers that tested a Bicknell Racing Products racer in the Sportsmen Division – a BRP Chassis loaned by Central New York competitor Gary Tompkins that sported a GM Crate Engine that has been accepted circuit-wide as an option for 2005 for use at Dirt Northeast member tracks.
Sleight’s return to Merrittville comes after several years away from his dirt racing roots. Sleight’s last racing was in a Cup Lite Car at asphalt tracks such as Delaware Speedway. Prior to that the St. Catharines driver had competed in Tuesday Night Kart Racing at Merrittville.
2004 Auto FX Graphics Original Pizza Logs Junior Restricted Light Champion Mat Williamson is preparing for double duty in 2005 – continuing Karting while adding a Sportsmen Car and Saturday nights to his schedule.
A second generation driver is set to return a familiar name to Saturday Nights in 2005 having teamed up with Peninsula Press Motorsports for his initial Sportsmen Season.
Anthony Rizzardo – nephew of former Modified competitor Danny Rizzardo – will give up Tuesday Night Karts for his new Saturday Night venture into open wheel racing. Also joining the Sportsmen division in 2005 are two veteran Hoosier Stock competitors – Greg Ayers and Dave Dykstra.
These new drivers and veterans alike should provide quite an entertaining mix as the division looks for a new champion in 2005.
2004 Merrittville Sportsmen Champion Adam Ferri has announced plans to run for Rookie of the Year honors in the L. St. Amand 358 Modified Division in 2005.
Following Ferri to the premier 358 division are Boyd MacTavish and Greg Panunte who have competed in the class in previous seasons.
Another driver making a return to regular competition in 2005 is fan favorite Randy Chrysler who is planning a return to Saturday Night action at the Thorold track after competing in Central New York in recent years. Another popular veteran also returning to the premier division this season is Ken Cosgrove. Cosgrove is set to return after a three year absence from the sport.
The Dwarf Car Division also looks to have several rookies in the field this season with kart veteran Paul Klager joining the class in 2005, Klager competed last season as a rookie in the 4 Cylinder Division running to the runner-up spot in points after many seasons racing karts Tuesday Nights.
Joining Klager are first time competitors Tim Tallman, Owen Steele, Josh Sliter, Adam Murphy and Bruce Demers who declared their intentions at a recent Driver’s Meeting. Demers will make the trip to Merrittville from Windsor to race his new car.
With Rob Knapp making his return back to the Sportsmen division also, his younger brother Kevin is one of the Hoosier Stock Rookie crop expected to join that division this season. The younger Knapp will race his older brother’s feature winning car.
A driver making a return that needs no introduction is 2003 Hoosier Stock Point Champion Dolf McCready. After sitting out last season to assist first time driver Danielle Landry launch her career the veteran is set to return to regular competition in 2005. Another former champion – Jeff Dayman is also set to return to the Hoosier Stock ranks this season
When you size up the competition you begin to see the age differnce and generation gaps that have formed through all divisions. On the one side you have Modified veterans like Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Brian Stevens, Fred Carleton, Paul Ashton or Sportsmen veteran Bill Willard mixed in the field with some of the rookie drivers. These and other veterans individually have in some cases more years racing experience than some of the young up and coming drivers have been alive.
The battle of the old guard versus the young guns through all divisions will create even stronger competition and great racing action for the race fan.
Merrittville Speedway’s race fans and teams alike will see a new Merrittville when Practice Day takes place Saturday April 23rd.
Last fall, Ed MacPherson Construction and Speedway Officials put down more than 200 loads of new clay – shared between the Stock Car and Kart Tracks.
For further information on Merrittville Speedway’s 2005 Season call 905-892-8266 or visit
www.merrittvillespeedway.com. By Jim Irvine.
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